Automatic loop feed for machines for applying ornamentation to header loops



Jan. 4, 1938. H. A. KLAHRE AUTOMATIC LOOP FEED FOR MACHINES FOR APPLYING ORNAMENTATION TO HEADER LOOPS Filed July 30, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VENT OR, Husa F7. KLHHRE ATTORNEY.

Jam. 4, 1938 H. A. KLAHRE 2,104,398 AUTOMATIC LOOP FEED FOR MACHINES FOR APPLYING: ORNAMENTATION TO HEADER LOOPS Filed July 30, 1-935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Husu H. KLHHR'E ATTORNEY.

LOOPS H. A. KLAHRE AUTOMATIC LOOP FEED FOR MACHINES FOR APPLYING ORNAMEN'IATION TO HEADER Filed July 30, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 4, 1938 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC LOOP FEED FOR MACHINES FOR APPLYING ORNAMENTA'I'ION TO HEADER LOOPS Hugo A. Klahre, Teaneck, N. J., assignor to Consolidated Trimming Corporation, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application July 30, 1935, Serial No. 33,889

17 Claims.

My present invention relates to automatic mechanism for feeding the loops of headers, edgings, fringes or other fabrics to a machine which operates to make and apply balls, tassels, tufts or other ornamental features to such loops; and it consists essentially in new and improved and simplified devices for causing the loops to be automatically carried in a series of successive individual loops into the die mechanism of the machine which forms and attaches the ornamentation to the loops and also automatically positions the loops relatively to said mechanism so that the resulting ball fringe or similar textile product Will be better made and the operation of the machine will be more unfailing and accurate than has hitherto been possible with others having a like purpose.

While the particular mechanism of the machine or apparatus by means of which the balls or other ornamentation are formed and attached to the loops is not a part of the present invention, and while the feed device of the present invention has a variety of uses and aptitudes, yet inasmuch as this automatic feed device carries the loops and delivers them to such a machine, it is desirable to sketch briefly some of the essential and fundamental features of the same. I have, therefore, delineated an example of the same in a general manner in the drawings and shall briefly describe some of the features of this machine, as I proceed with the present specification, but it will be understood that said particular ball making and applying machine forms no part of the present invention, but I am not re stricted to the use thereof, and that it is only one example of a machine with which my present new and improved automatic feed forms a valu-- able mechanical adjunct. This example is presented because an understanding of a type of such mechanism and its chief functions will be helpful in better appreciating the character of the results obtained by my automatic feed, as the operation of the feed proceeds in substantial sequence performed by the mechanical parts in a single cycle of operation.

I have illustrated my automatic feed in association with an old and well known type of ballfringe machine and because the construction and operation of such machines, of which there are several types, are so well known in the art, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the machine in all its details.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide an automatic means for feeding loops onto the prong of a fringe-making machine, one type of such an automatic feed being disclosed in the patent to Robert E. Walliser No. 1,660,536. My improved feed mechanism is clearly distinguished from the Walliser feed in that mine is more positive and certain in operation, is much more simple in construction because it embodies a lesser number of parts, and is therefore cheaper to manufacture and more easily applied.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved automatic loop feed for a ball fringe machine, the same being shown in operative relation to the main essential features of such a machine, the specimen selected for illustration being that contained in the mechanism hereinabove referred to;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 represent views in detail of certain of the mechanical parts;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a short section of looped fabric, the loops of which are carried on the reciprocating feed member;

Figs. '7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 represent, in more or less diagrammatic form the automatic loopfeed devices of my present improvements in their relation to the tuft or ornament forming dies and other essential features of the machine which applies said tufts to the loops, showing the various positions assumed by the parts of the automatic feed mechanism in relation to the parts of the tuft forming mechanism at various stages in the progressive operation in which the automatic feed mechanism delivers one loop after another to the tuft forming devices, and they in turn create and afiix the ornamental feature to each loop in succession, binding a wire staple about each ornamental feature as it is connected with a loop, and passing the completed and ornamented fabric or fringe out of the machine.

Fig. 14 is a detail view of a portion of the completed tufted and looped fabric as it comes away from the machine with the tufts on the loops;

Fig. 15 is a similar portion of a ball fringe after the tufts have been steamed or otherwise treated to convert them into a ball or tassel form;

Fig. 16 is a sectional detail of a part of the mechanism for supporting the driven end of the reciprocating feed member, so that it may be adjustable, and may slide back and forth easily for a proper distance.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout all the different figures of the drawings.

The loops with which my present invention is concerned are those loops, as 6, formed on a heading, as 5, which is ordinarily made as a narrow fabric, ribbon or textile edging in any usual weaving loom or other apparatus, and such loops are provided in a series so that balls, tufts or other ornamentation may be applied thereto and thus to the fabric to make an ornamental fringe to be used with upholstery, draperies, hangings or other furniture or articles. i

The machine with which my improved automatic loop feeding device "is used, being in this instance by way of example the aforesaid well known machine, includes a reciprocable carnactuated forked die I, which receives the loops 6 one by one on one of its prongs 8. The die i has two prongs 8, and these prongs 8 are interiorly grooved at 9 (see Figs. 4 and 13) each loop 6 being delivered over one of the'prongs 8 and hung thereon by the automatic feed, its position in this respect being indicated in Figs. 10 and 11. At this time the notch or fork in'the die I is on one side of a tuft I9 of threads, said tuft projecting downwardly from a verticallymovable tube I8 carrying this material. Suitable wire feed mechanism is arranged at I2 to feed the wire ll into the machine, and this wire, which is used as the binding wire for the tufts, is advanced outwardly to lie adjacent to an anvil pin or mandrel It, which is vertically reciprocatory, the wire being between it and a second reciprocating wire-bending die member 58, which has two parallel projecting prongs I3, I3, V-- grooved in their extremities at 56, not only to embrace and bend the wire II, but to cut it on at the proper length as well, and such die member 58 with its prongs I3, I3, advances at times and partially bends the wire II around the mandrel III as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The interior groove 9 in the die 1, between the two prongs 8 thereof, receives this wire II when it is so bent, and its ends enter the groove 9 which runs along the inner edge of theprongs, on one of which prongsat this time is carried one of the loops 6 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Certain cam mechanisrn advances the wire bending die members I3, I3, so that they move toward the tuft I9 and bend the ends of the wire in that direction, the

action taking place in such a manner that the proper length of wire I is sheared off by the cutting edge at 50, so that a U-shaped staple is thus formed when the advancing die members I3, I3, bend the wire II around the pin or anvil I6. Meanwhile the forked die 7 and its prongs 8, 8 are advanced by cam. mechanism, the same being properly timed for the correct sequence of movements, so that the wire is bent closely around the tuft I9.

Thereis also a plunger die M, which reciprocates between the die prongs I3, I3, and this plunger die is advanced also by cam mechanism so as to cooperate with the notched die 1 and hold the bent wire 'lI between it and the anvil Ii]. When this'occurs the die members I3, I3 cease to operate and remain in the position shown in Figs. and 11, and the mandrel or anvil I9 is lowered out of the way so as to be no longer in the path of the plunger die if, whereupon the plunger die I4 and the forked die 1 with its prongs 8, 8 advance toward each other to force the U-shaped wire staple more firmly down into. the notch of the forked die 1 as'shown in Fig. ll, and bind the wire II tightly around the tuft i9. It will be noted that when the parts come into this position one end of the wire I I has passed between the prong 8 which supports the loop 6 and the tuft or bundle of threads is at that point, and through the loop which has previously been hung upon the prong 8 as clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The continued motion of the plunger die 54 and the forked die i toward each other causes the U- shaped wire staple i I to be more completely bent into a substantially circular form tightly and centrally around the bundle of threads I9 forming the tuft. At this time a suitable pair of horizontal cutters or shears 20, 20, likewise camactuated, (see Fig. 12) approach each other and cut off the bundle of threads IS which has just been attached to the loop 6 on the prong 8, thus forming a tuft a, while the bundle of threads I9 is still being thus held securely clamped between the plunger die' i4 and the apex at the bottom of the notched die I.

Simultaneously therewith and just as the tuft a is severed there is a movement of the thread feeding tube 58 which causes it to rise and thus draw out of it another portion of the threadgroup long enough to form another tuft, after which the tube !8 drops back again and the new tuft of threads i9 is presented in proper position to form the next tuft immediately after the previously formed tuft a has been released from the dies. As soon as the tuft or bundle of threads I 9 between the encircling binding wire Ii and the end of the guide tube 88 has been severed, the movement of the parts causes the loop 6 to which the tuft a has been applied to slip off the prong 8, and the portion of fabric to which the tuft a has been applied will make a short movement away from the forming mechanism sufficiently far to allow the next loop on the feed member to enter into said mechanism and be delivered to the prong 8. The outgoing finished fabric runs around the roller I? proximate to the end of the feed member and keeps the advanced'loops from retreating. Hence one cycle of operation is thus completed which consists of the making and attaching ofa ball or tuft to one loop of the header or fringe, and in sequence the feed device operates immediately to place another loop on the prong 8 of the forked die l so that the same cycle may be instantly repeated. The various dies for bending and cutting the wire, forming the tufts, severing them from the main line of threads, and applying them to the loops of the headers or fabrics, which I have just been describing, are arranged conveniently upon a main table 2I supported on legs 59. At each end of this table 25 is located a group of cams 40, M and. 42 mounted on vertical shafts 5B, and attached in proper sequence with very carefultiming by suitable drive gearing and leverage arranged above and below the table 29, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but which it is not necessary to herein describe in detail.

Understanding that this general description of the arrangement of dies or the like for making and affixing balls or tufts to header loops is not claimed herein and is only one example of mechanism for the purpose, I will now proceed to describe the automatic loop feed mechanism to which my present invention particularly relates.

The automatic loop feed devices consist essen tially of a reciprocating feed member, which may be a single elongated rod or tube, but which is preferably made in two parts, I and 2, being an elongated rod or tube, preferably hollow, of considerable length, so that it may carry a substantial series of loops 6, and the other part 2 being a shorter section either round or square in cross-section, and having one end conical or tapered at 2a, in order that it may be inserted snugly and frictionally in the adjoining end of the hollow section 5 and held therein tightly by friction. The end of the section 2 is bifurcated, cleft or slotted at 3 to form a fork large enough to easily embrace one of the prongs 8, there being in the length of this fork a notch or shoulder s which engages the loop 6 to carry it forward. The construction and arrangement of the reciprocating feed member consisting of the parts i and 2 is clearly indicated in Fig. 2, especially its mounting and its relation to the diemembers, while the forked end 3 of this member, which is the delivery end of the same, is shown in an enlarged View in Fig. 5.

The delivery end of the reciprocating feed member is supported on the table 2! and surely directed to a position in proper relation to the forming dies by means of an anti-friction guide which may partake of a variety of different forms. In the present example of the invention this guiding means consists of a vertical roller i5 supported on the table 2! so that the reciprocating member will rest against it on one side, a second vertical roller l1 similarly supported on the opposite side of the feed member, and between these two rollers l5 and H, a horizontal roller 56 on which the feed member rests and slides carrying loops 6 thereon. Roller l 5 may be carried in a slotted frame 52 held in place and made adjustable by a set screw 53; roller i! is carried by a slotted frame 54 securely held and made adjustable by set screw 55, and roller i5 is carried in a slotted frame 56 securely held in place and made adjustable by set screw 51. The ordinary weight of the reciprocating feed member is sufficient to keep it in place upon the horizontal roller l6,and it is unnecessary to have a roller above it. These rollers, however, may be arranged a great variety of different ways and they may be as many or as few in number as are suiiicient to guide the feed member, but in practice the three described have been found satisfactory.

The other end of the reciprocating feed member is supported as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by means of structures and parts which will enable it to be surely and rapidlyreciprocated. as well as made readily removable and replaceable when necessary. The end of the feed member section I is held between the twin slitted members of the end of a block 23, slit members being embraced by a clamp 23 having a set screw 30 by means of which the slit members may be clamped down tightly or released from the end of the rod or tube 5. This block 28 reciprocates in a guide 3 shown in detail in Fig. 16, and supported on a post 45, erected on floor plate 44, the guide comprising a main grooved portion to which a slotted plate 21 is screwed or otherwise attached. Through the slotted plate 2'! passes a set screw 35 which also passes through a block 32 so that the block 32 is thus connected to the slide 28. Block 32 is bored near its lower end for the passage of a rod 35 which is held in sa d bored member by means of a set screw 33. The rod 34 runs to the machine table 2! and is connected to certain leverage 49 actuated by the rotary shaft 48, the mechanism of which is geared up to the general drive gearing of the ball forming machine, whereby at the proper speed and with the required length of move ment the rod 3! is reciprocated, and the same movement is transmitted through the block 32 and slide 28 to the reciprocating feed member consisting of the parts I and 2., The post 45 is firmly held by the tie rod 43 adjustably connected to the machine frame and to the post 45.

As clearly indicated in Fig. l a mass of the fabric 5 with its loops 6 is accumulated on the reciprocating feed rod prior to the insertion of the feed rod into the machine, and then this accumulated mass is gradually disentangled and straightened out so that the loops 6 will be resolved into a series of individual units following each other in close succession and passing from the main portion of the said member onto the delivery end of the same where they widen out to their natural spacing just prior to being delivered individually to the ball affixing dies. As

will be clearly understood, by unscrewing the nut 30 and loosening the clamp 29, the feed member is released and can be removed from the machine because it easily lifts away from the guide rollers on the table 2|, after which the short delivery section 2 can be detached from the main tubular section I. Said section I can then be loaded with the looped fabric in as large a quantity as desired. A large number of these tubes I may be loaded with loops and kept in readiness for insertion into the machine. When all the loops have been used up on one of the tubes and it is empty and it is desired to supply new loaded tube, all that need be done after the empty tube has been removed is to attach. the delivery section 2 to the new loaded tube 5 and replace the same in the machine with the delivery end 2 on the anti-friction rollers and the opposite end in the clamp 29, then as the machine is made to operate, the feed member reciprocates and delivers the loops to the forming dies as before.

Supported likewise on the standard 45 near the distant end of the reciprocating feed member is a horizontal frame 36 in which is journaled a shaft 23, which has a pulley 24 on one end around which passes a belt or driving cord that likewise runs around a pulley 4! on a shaft 25 mounted in the frame of the main machine below table 2!, there being a hand or fiy wheel 46 on the shaft 26. Shaft 23 driven in this manner by a belted connection with the main driving features of the machine is provided on its other end with a reel 31 of any common and usual construction around which the finished fabric 5 provided with the completed balls or ornamentations a may be wound after it leaves the ball applying machine. In its path from the die mechanism to the reel this finished fabric passes through a pair of rotating rollers or blocks 22, 22, which may be any shape (see Figs. 1 and 2) driven by any suitable belted connection, as 5!, with the main operating mechanism of the machine, by means of which the finished product is fed forward so as to be drawn taut and away from the dies and directed around roller I! in its course toward the reel. Devices 22 may be mounted at any preferred point and in any suitable way to render the assistance which they perform, and may be driven together or independently, and in the same or opposite directions.

As the reciprocating feed member consisting of the sections l and 2 moves toward and away from the forming dies, the loop at the end of such member nearest the dies will be carried forward because of its engagement with the notch 4, in the feed member as shown in Fig. 7 until said (iii its prongs 8 into the. forked end 3.

notch passes the roller [1 as shown in Fig. 8. After one loop 6 has passed the roller l! the next loop twill be drawn past roller l1, and as each loop passes said roller the roller will operate as a brake against'said loop to prevent it from returning when the next reciprocation in the other direction of the feed member takes place, so that each loop having once passed the roller El will be held in front of it and will engage the notch i of the feed member as soon as the feed member drops back far enough to catch it. This is another important function of the roller i7 besides acting as an anti-friction guide. This result is also insured by the fact that the finished product of the machine, that is, the header with its ornamentation thereon, leaves the machine by passing around the roller ll, which is comparatively close to the dies, and so the finished prodnot until it has cleared the machine will run in close proximity to the dies and prevent the loops that have passed roller [T from slipping back, at the reverse movement of the feed device. When the loop 6, which has entirely cleared the roller H, is carried forward into the position shown in Fig. 9, the forked end 3 of the feed member will be moving into a position nearer to the forked die and when it reaches the proper position the forkeddie will become active and thrust one of This is clearly shown in Fig. 11. At the same time the dies l3 and M will operate to bend the wire ll around the tuft l9 to form the completed tuft all'asshown in Fig. 11. In Fig. 12 everything is shown as finished except that the shears 20 have not yet ,cut off the completed ornament a, but the loop 6 now provided with its ornament has left the feed member which is now retreating in its return reciprocation, and in fact has gone so far that the notch 4 has engaged the next loop 6 and is ready to bring it forward. The instant the sheared off tuft a is released by the cutters 2B, the finished portion of the fabric with its completed tufts moves a step forward, being assisted in this movement by the devices 22, and the parts are again in the position shown in Fig. '7, where the forward feed impulse is applied to the reciprocating member and the same cycle of operation is gone through as before. 7

It is evident that many changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention and that I am not restricted tothe precise construction and relative arrangement of the mechanical parts which make up my improved combination, but that said parts may be modified and rearranged in a great variety of different ways and many of them may be related to each other in other ways, with sizes, proportions and design of operation modified and changed within wide limits, provided only such changes come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic loop feeding member for ornamentation making and applying machines, said member consisting essentially of an elongated reciprocable rod adapted to support and carry a succession of connected loops thereon and provided with means for engaging the loops in succession and delivering them to the machine at each forward reciprocation of the feed member, and means for reciprocating said member.

1 2. The combination with a device for connecting ornamental features to the loops of a fabric, of a reciprocating feed member for supporting and feeding the loops to said device in a series, said member having its delivery end slotted to operate with the mechanism of the said device and notched to engage the loops individually and deliver them to the device.

3. The combination with a device for connecting ornamental features to the loops of a fabric, of a reciprocating feed member for supporting and feeding the loops thereto in a series, said member consisting of an elongated reciprocating tubular rod having its delivery end slotted to cooperate with the mechanism of the said device and notched to engage the loops individually and deliver them to the device.

4. A loop feed for use with a ball fringe machine, the latter including a reciprocating interlocking die mechanism, said feed comprising a reciprocating loop-carrying member in two sections, movable in unison to feed the loops, one of which sections is tubular and the other being in rectilineal alinement with said tubular section and separable from the tubular section to permit the removal of the latter section for loading the loops, said separable section having a loop-engaging notch and a forked end.

5. A loop feed for use with a ball fringe machine, said feed comprising a reciprocating loopcarrying member in two sections, one being tubular and the other insertible into the end thereof in rectilineal alinement with the tubular section and separable therefrom to permit the removal of the tubular section for loading with loops, said separable section having a loop-engaging notch and a fork.

6. A loop feed for use with a. ball fringe machine, said feed comprising a reciprocating loopcarrying member in two sections, one of which is attachable to the end of the other in rectilineal alinement therewith and separable from said other section at times to permit its removal from the machine for the purpose of loading with loops, said separable attachable section having a notch and a fork.

'7. The combination with a device for connecting ornamental features to the loops of a fabric, of a reciprocating feed member for supporting and feeding the loops thereto in a series, said feed member comprising two parts, one of which is tubular and the other of which is frictionally inserted at the forward end into the tubular part in rectilineal alinement therewith, said forward insertible part being slotted at the end and notched to cooperate with the loop applying device and to deliver the loops individually thereto.

8. The combination with a machine for applying ornamentationv to the loops of a fabric, of a reciprocating feed member for supporting and feeding the loops thereto in a series, said feed member comprising an elongated section and another removable delivery section connected therewith in rectilineal alinement, said latter section having a slotted end and a notched edge to facilitate association with the forming dies in the said machine and the application of the loops therewith.

9. An automatic loop-feeding member for ornamentation making and applying machines,

said member consisting of an elongated reciprocable rod adapted to support and carry a succession of connected loops thereon and provided withmeans for engaging the loops in succession and delivering them to the machine, means for reciprocating said member, and means disposed outside of the axis of said rod, .the loops being engaged and held between said means and said rod, for preventing the slipping back of loops on the feed member below the engaging means during a reverse reciprocation.

10. An automatic reciprocable loop-feeding member for tuft-making and applying machines, said member comprising an elongated element adapted to support and carry connected. loops thereto and having means for engaging and feeding each loop into the machine in succession, and means disposed outside of the axis of said. element, the loops being engaged and held between said means and said element for preventing the return of loops on the feed member below the engaging means.

11. An automatic reciprocable feed member adapted for use with a fringe ornamentation making machine, said member adapted to support and carry a succession of connected loops thereon and having a notch to engage each loop in succession and feed it into the machine, and means disposed outside the axis of the reciprocable feed member between which and said member the loops are engaged, said means preventing the return of any advancing loops past the notch on a reverse reciprocation of the feed member.

12. An automatic reciprocable feed member adapted for use with a fringe ornamentation making machine, said member adapted to support and carry a succession. of connected loops thereon, and having a notch to engage each loop in succession and feed it into the machine, and means around which the finished product discharges from the machine and by its weight prevents the slipping back of the loops below the engaging notch on the return reciprocation of the feed member.

13. The combination with a device for connecting ornamental features to the loops of a fabric, of a reciprocating feed member for supporting and feeding the loops thereto in a series, said member having means for engaging and delivering the loops individually, guiding means for the delivery end of the member engageable with the outer surface of said reciprocating feed member for preventing the slipping back of the loops below the engaging notch and between said means and the reciprocating member on the return reciprocation of said member.

14. In an automatic loop feed device, a reciprocating feed member supporting and carrying a series of connected loops that slide thereon, said feed rod being in two sections, one of which is attachable to the end of the other in rectilineal alinement therewith and separable therefrom at times, said separable section having means for engaging and delivering the loops in succession, means for withdrawing the finished product which in discharging from the machine by its weight prevents the slipping back of the loops below the feeding means, and rotary means for reeling up said product.

15. The combination with a device for connecting ornamental features to the loops of a fabric, of a reciprocating loop support and feed member for delivering the loops thereto in a series, said feed member comprising two parts, one of which is tubular and the other of which is inserted at the forward end into the tubular part, means for reciprocating said feed member, means for assisting the exit of the completed product from the machine, means disposed outside the axis of the feed member, the loops being engaged and held between said means and the feed member, and means for reeling up the finished product, comprising a rotary device and means for actuating the same.

16. The combination with a machine for applying ornamentation to the loops of a fabric, including cooperating forming dies, of a reciprocating feed member for feeding the loops thereto in a series, said feed member comprising an elongated section and another delivery section connected therewith, said latter section having a slotted end and a notched edge, for association with the forming dies and the loops, means disposed outside the axis of the feeding member, the loops being engaged and held between said means and said feeding member, for preventing the slip-ping back of loops on the feeding member below the engaging means during a reverse reciprocation, and roller devices for facilitating the removal of the finished product.

1'7. An automatic reciprocable feed member adapted for use with a fringe ornamentation making machine, said member adapted to support and carry a succession of connected loops thereon, and having a notch to engage each loop in succession to deliver it into the machine, said member comprising two separable sections which are attached to each other when they are in the machine, but detached from each other when removed from the machine for the purpose of loading up the feed member, and means around which the finished product discharges from the machine and by its weight prevents the slipping back of the loops below the engaging notch on the return reciprocation of the feed member.

HUGO A. KLAI-IRE. 

